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THE  ILLINI 

(OFFICIAL  PAPER  OF  THE  UNIVERSITY) 


VoL.  XXVIII.  urbana  and  Champaign,  Illinois,  Friday,  January  13,  1899.  No.  15 


EVENING. 


Across  the  tired,  weary  world 
The  sun  g-ave  one  long-  look, 

As  in  the  misty,  darkening-  East 
The  robe  of  nig-ht  he  shook. 

Then  far  and  wide  so  silently, 

With  deft  and  practiced  hand. 

He  drew  the  darkness  from  the  sky 
And  spread  it  o’er  the  land. 

He  paused  upon  the  ocean’s  rim 
To  g-aze  o’er  everything-. 

Before  he  crossed  the  world’s  threshold. 
And  then  remembering-. 

As  he  heard  the  low,  sleepy  hum 
From  forest,  hill  and  deep. 

He  kissed  the  summits  of  the  hills 
And  left  the  world  asleep. 


A.  N.  D. 


230 


THE  ILLINI:  JANUABY  13,  1899. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS  STATE  LIBRARY  SCHOOL. 


HISTORY. 

From  September  14,  1895,  to  July  1,  1897, 
this  school  was  known  as  the  Department 
of  Library  Science  of  Armour  Institute  of 
Technology,  Chicago. 

It  started  with  only  a short  elementary 
course  to  meet  a certain  demand  which  was 
felt  in  the  Middle  West,  and  its  connection 
with  a technical  school  was  at  first  consid- 
ered peculiarly  fortunate.  As  conditions 
changed,  or  were  more  fully  appreciated, 
the  course  was  extended,  but  it  soon  became 
evident  that  the  school  could  not  meet  the 
demands  upon  it  without  larger  quarters  and 
more  generous  equipment. 

The  offer  of  the  University  of  Illinois  in 
1897  to  adopt  the  department,  its  students, 
and  its  technical  equipment,  and  to  make  it 
the  State  Library  school,  presented  a wel- 
come opportunity.  The  decision  to  move 
was  not  made  hurriedly  nor  without  consul- 
tation in  the  east  and  in  the  west,  and  when 
the  transfer  of  the  school  and  its  property 
was  made,  with  the  good  will  of  Armour 
Institute  of  Technology,  in  September,^  1897, 
the  friends  of  the  school  felt  that  a new  era 
for  it  had  begun. 

It  was  suggested  that  the  school  should 
omit  all  instruction  during  this  first  jear  in 
the  new  quarters,  because  of  the  great 
amount  of  library  work.  This  condition 
seemed,  however,  a reason  for  having  the 
school,  as  the  experience  in  organizing 
would  be  invaluable.  It  -was  considered 
unwise,  also,  to  allow  the  school  to  lapse, 
even  for  a year. 

Those  students  who  had  entered  when 
requirements  were  lower,  with  the  expecta- 
tion of  completing  the  course,  were  given 
an  opportunity  to  take  advanced  work  this 
year,  but  this  year  only.  No  effort  was 
made  to  secure  a new  class,  but  those  who 
were  prepared  to  meet  the  new  requirements 
were  accepted.  This  year  was  considered  a 
transitional  year,  and  was  devoted  to  a care- 
ful study  of  university  conditions  with  their 
reference  to  the  library  school  curriculum. 
The  result  was  many  changes  in  the  inter- 
ests of  thoroughness,  system  and  harmony 
with  university  terms  and  methods. 

EQUIPMENT. 

The  State  of  Illinois  recently  erected  for 
the  University,  at  a cost  of  $160,000,  one  of 
the  most  beautiful  and  convenient  library 
buildings  in  the  country. 

The  library  is  167x113  feet.  The  main 
floor  contains  the  reference  room,  the  peri- 


odical reading  room,  the  conversation  room, 
the  library  school  lecture  room  and  the 
delivery  room,  which  opens  into  the  second 
story  of  the  book-stack.  The  second  floor 
contains  the  library  school  class  room,  four 
seminar  rooms  and  the  administrative  offices 
of  the  University.  The  basement  contains 
well-lighted  rooms,  which  are  at  present 
used  for  various  collections.  The  book- 
stack  forms  a rear  wing  to  the  building,, 
separated  by  a fire-proof  wall.  This  will 
eventually  contain  five  stories,  accommodat- 
ing 150,000  volumes.  At  present  only  three 
stories  are  fitted  with  shelving,  while  the 
upper  portion  is  floored  to  form  a class  room 
for  the  library  school  Here  each  student 
has  a desk  specially  fitted  for  library  work, 
and  has  easy  access  to  the  collections  of  the 
school  in  this  room  and  to  the  book-stack 
directly  below. 

The  libraries  now  embrace  about  40,000 
volumes,  and  the  last  Legislature  appropri- 
ated $20,000  for  additions  within  two  years. 
This  affords  unusual  opportunities  for  the 
library  students. 

The  library  school  has  the  complete  col- 
lection of  manuscript  notes  and  problems 
which  have  been  prepared  since  the  school 
opened  in  1893,  and  as  the  number  of  text 
books  is  so  small,  this  collection  is  invalua- 
ble. A collection  of  library  reports  and 
catalogues,  of  mounted  samples  and  of  me- 
chanical devices  is  carefully  classified  and 
is  continually  increasing. 

REQUIREMENTS. 

The  requirements  for  admission  from 
1893-97  were  a high  school  course  or  its 
equivalent.  Candidates  were  required  to 
take  examinations  in  general  history,  gen- 
eral literature  and  general  information.  In 
1897  they  were  obliged  to  take  examinations 
also  in  one  year  each  of  French  and  Ger- 
man. College  graduates  whose  records 
were  satisfactory  were  admitted  without 
examination.  As  these  were  admitted  first, 
and  others  in  the  order  of  their  preparation, 
and  the  number  in  each  class  was  limited, 
there  were  very  few  students  who  had  only 
a high  school  preparation. 

In  1898  candidates  for  technical  library 
work  had  to  present  satisfactory  credits  for 
two  years  of  university  work.  High  school 
candidates  must  now  enter  as  freshmen  -in 
the  University,  and  take  the  course  outlined 
in  one  of  its  colleges  for  two  years.  Candi- 
dates are  urged,  however,  to  complete  *a 
general  college  course  before  taking  the 


/ 


231 


/ ^ 

STATE  LIBRARY  SCHOOL. 


technical  work,  and  an  encourag-ing*  num- 
ber of  g’raduates  are  applying^. 

LENGTH  OF  COURSE. 

The  course  at  first  was  so  planned  as  to 
offer  but  one  year  of  instruction,  so  arrang-ed 
that  it  could  be  supplemented  by  a second 
year  of  advanced  work  if  desirable.  In  1895 
a second  year  was  added,  and  has  been  g-iven 
ever  since.  Now  the  course  covers  four 
years  beyond  the  hig-h  school,  consisting  of 
two  years  of  regular  college  work. 

It  has  not  seemed  wise  to  restrict  admis- 
sion to  the  graduating  class  by  extra  exam- 
inations or  by  personal  decision,  and  it 
seems  quite  impossible  in  a State  institution 
to  refuse  promotion  to  those  who  have  won 
that  right  by  their  records,  although  strenu- 
ous efforts  are  made  to  deter  those  who  seem 
personally  unfitted  for  the  work  and  to  turn 
their  energies  in  other  directions.  ' 
degree. 

The  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Library  Sci- 
ence (B.L.S.)  will  be  conferred  on  those 
who  complete  the  course  outlined. 

At  Armour  Institute  of  Technology  no 
degree  was  given.  Former  graduates  who 
possessed  the  present  requirements  will  be 
counted  as  alumni  of  the  University  of  Illi- 
nois, but  they  can  not  receive  the  degree, 
because  they  have  not  been  in  residence. 

INSTRUCTION. 

The  course  at  first  was  modeled  after  the 
junior  year  at  the  New  York  State  Library 
School,  although  English  literature  was 
required,  owing  to  the  lower  standards  of 
admission,  and  later  typewriting  was  added. 
As  long  as  the  course  was  limited  to  one 
year,  the  tendency  was  to  crowd  into  it  as 
much  advanced  work  as  the  students  could 
carry.  When  a second  year  was  added,  no 
change  was  made  in  the  first  year,  and  the 
uneven  division  of  work  was  soon  manifest. 
The  effort  now  is  to  restrict  the  instruction 
to  library  topics,  according  to  the  recom- 
mendations of  the  A.  L.  A.  Committee  on 
Library  Schools  in  1895,  and  to  more  evenly 
divide  the  work.  The  earlier  tendency  was 
to  magnify  technical  details.  The  effort  in 
the  future  will  be  to  give  a broader  knowl- 
edge of  books. 

Cataloguing. — Instruction  is  given  ac- 
cording to  Dewey’s  “Library  School  Rules” 
and  Cutter’s  “Rules  for  a Dictionary  Cata- 
logue.” At  first  the  course  taught  the  con- 
struction of  a classed  catalogue,  and  the 
classed  catalogue  of  Armour  Institute  of 
Technology  afforded  practice  throughout 
the  year.  Dictionary  cataloguing  was 
taught  later  in  the  year  for  a period  of  six 
weeks,  but  there  was  no  practical  opportu- 


nity to  apply  it.  Experience  showed  that 
nearly  all  of  the  students  went  out  to  libra- 
ries for  which  the  dictionary  catalogue  was 
more  convenient. 

Therefore,  without  any  intention  of  decid- 
ing in  favor  of  one  form  in  preference  to  the 
other,  but  rather  for  practical  reasons,  the 
main  instruction  was  given  on  dictionary 
cataloguing,  and  the  Armour  catalogue 
was  changed  to  this  form  to  afford  practice 
for  the  students.  This  course  has  proved 
much  more  satisfactory  than  the  former 
method. 

All  details  of  author  cataloguing  are 
given  before  subject  headings  are  touched 
upon.  Then  full  cataloguing  is  required 
to  give  a review  of  details.  Each  student 
has  at  the  end  of  the  course  a sample  dic- 
tionary catalogue  with  an  index  by  princi- 
ples which  it  illustrates,  e.  g..,  “Compound 
names,  see  Baring-Gould,  Lane-Poole;” 
“Series  card,  see  American  statesmen.” 
Students  are  required  to  make  a classed 
catalogue  for  a certain  number  of  books,  in 
order  to  learn  the  arrangement,  but  further 
practice  is  considered  unnecessary. 

Advanced  cat^aloguing  has  been  taught 
in  various  ways.  Until  last  year  a study  of 
principles  was  based  upon  a comparison  of 
ten  codes,  ranging  in  date  from  the  British 
Museum  to  the  latest  edition  of  the  “Library 
School  Rules.”  Last  year  the  study  was 
based  upon  a proposed  code  for  cataloguing 
government  documents.  This  will  be  con- 
tinued, and  a course  on  preparing  a printed 
catalogue  will  be  added.  The  students  will 
prepare  for  the  printer  the  complete  list  of 
books  used  for  instruction  in  dictionary  cat- 
aloguing, with  the  index  by  principles,  will 
select  the  paper,  decide  upon  the  type  and 
read  the  proof. 

Throughout  the  course  practical  experi- 
ence is  given  in  cataloguing.  At  Armour 
Institute  of  Technology  the  students  made 
the  greater  part  of  the  card  catalogue,  but 
the  books  were  not  very  difficult.  At  the 
University  there  have  been  plenty  of  diffi- 
cult foreign  scientific  books  and  continua- 
tions, and  the  advantages  have  been  satis- 
factory. 

Formerly  cataloguing  was  given  first  in 
the  course,  partly  through  following  prece- 
dent and  partly  because  it  gave  a better 
foundation  in  detail  work.  This  arrange- 
ment was  changed  at  the  University,  be- 
cause it  brought  the  heavy  instructional 
work  of  the  cataloguing  department  just 
when  the  entire  force  was  needed  to  cata- 
logue the  large  invoices  of  books  in  the  fall. 
This  year  the  instruction  follows  the  logical 
order  of  the  work,  beginning  with  the  order 


232 


THE  ILLFNI:  JAXUARY  13,  1899. 


LIBRARY  HALL. 


STATE  LIBRARY  SCHOOL. 


233 


and  accession  department,  and  this  brings 
cataloguing  in  the  winter  term,  when  in- 
struction will  not  interfere  with  library 
service. 

Order  and  Accession. — In  teaching  meth- 
ods of  ordering  books,  a list  of  American 
and  foreign  requests,  with  several  inaccu- 
rate items,  is  given  to  the  students.  They 
must  verify  this  and  prepare  orders  and 
write  any  necessary  instructions  to  the 
agent.  In  a short  time  the  American  books 
are  delivered,  with  a bill  which  needs  cor- 
recting and  necessitates  correspondence. 
Later  a custom  house  affidavit  is  sent  to 
each  one,  and  this  is  executed  before  a nota- 
ry public.  The  foreign  books,  with  bill,  are 
then  delivered  and  all  records  of  the  trans- 
action are  completed.  The  same  books  are 
accessioned.  Formerly  trade  bibliography 
was  taught  before  students  took  this  work. 
Hereafter  it  must  be  combined  with  the 
order  department  because  of  the  change  in 
the  course. 

Classification. — The  Dewey  Decimal  Class- 
ification is  taught  in  the  junior  year,  with 
merely  an  introduction  to  the  Cutter  Ex- 
pansive Classification  for  the  sake  of  com- 
parison. This  latter  system  is  carefully 
studied  in  the  senior  year,  together  with 
other  well-known  systems,  for  an  under- 
standing of  principles  rather  than  for 
details.  Both  at  Armour  Institute  of  Tech- 
nology and  at  the  University  the  practice 
of  the  students  is  with  the  Dewey  Decimal 
System. 

Shelf. — Instruction  is  given  upon  sheet 
and  card  shelf  lists,  book  numbers  and  care 
of  the  shelves.  A section  of  shelves  is 
assigned  to  each  student  for  practical  care, 
and  experience  is  given  with  a card  shelf 
list. 

Loan. — At  first  students  were  required  to 
memorize  the  details  of  a number  of  systems. 
Now  they  study  the  principles  of  single  and 
double  entry,  and  of  the  two-book  system  in 
preparation  for  class  or  individual  visits.  In 
the  senior  year,  after  having  seen  several  dif- 
ferent systems  in  operation,  they  make  a 
comparative  study  of  the  principles  of  guar- 
antee, age  limit,  fines,  renewals,  reserves, 
etc.,  in  connection  with  regulations  for 
readers. 

Binding. — Instruction  in  binding  treats 
of  materials  and  processes,  and  is  followed 
by  visits  to  binderies.  Instruction  is  given 
also  in  practical  mending. 

Refej'cnce. — Lectures  in  the  junior  year 
are  given  on  reference  books  in  groups, 
such  as  indexes,  dictionaries,  cyclopedias, 
atlases,  handbooks  of  history,  handbooks  of 
general  information,  quotations,  statistics. 


etc.  At  the  risk  of  losing  interest  because 
of  infrequent  recitations,  this  subject  has 
been  carried  through  the  year  rather  than 
grouped  in  one  term,  in  order  to  familiarize 
the  students  as  early  as  possible  with  the 
most  used  reference  books,  while  studying 
other  subjects.  Prom  the  very  opening  of 
the  school  great  stress  has  been  laid  on  the 
actual  preparation  of  reference  lists  for 
posting,  and  students  have  had  opportuni- 
ties to  show  their  ingenuity  in  suggesting 
and  preparing  timely  lists.  Their  speed 
has  also  been  tested  by  the  preparation  of 
class  and  society  lists  needed  at  a specified 
time.  Advanced  students  study  govern- 
ment, state  and  society  publications.  They 
have  also  a short  practical  course  in  in- 
dexing. 

Bibliography is  a tendency  to 
merge  in  other  subjects  the  work  formerly 
given  under  this  head.  Instruction  is  given 
in  the  junior  year  in  the  trade  bibliography 
of  America,  England,  France  and  Germany. 
Reading  lists  and  short  bibliographies  are 
included  in  reference  work.  In  the  senior 
year  subject  bibliographies  have  been  given 
by  specialists,  and  an  original  bibliography 
has  been  required  of  each  student  before 
graduation.  The  students  have  in  this  way 
received  many  valuable  lists,  but  they  have 
not  had  enough  class  exercises  upon  them 
to  make  them  familiar  with  them.  This 
omission  was  excused  for  lack  of  time,  be- 
cause the  original  bibliography  was  so 
absorbing.  The  F acuity  has  finally  reached 
the  conclusion  that  it  is  better  for  the  stu- 
dent to  have  more  of  these  special  bibliog- 
raphies from  authorities,  with  time  for  class 
drill  after  each,  than  to  become  very  famil- 
iar with  one  subject  to  the  exclusion  of  all 
others,  or  at  the  risk  of  extreme  superfi- 
ciality. 

Thesis. — The  library  school  will  hereafter 
require  only  a thesis  with  list  of  references, 
although  a bibliography  or  reading  list  may 
be  substituted.  A thesis  will  be  preferred 
in  order  to  cultivate  the  power  of  written 
expression.  It  has  always  been  claimed 
that  preparation  in  general  subjects  must 
be  gained  before  entering  the  library  school, 
and  that  the  latter  was  in  no  way  respon- 
sible for  them.  The  experience  of  this 
school  has  shown  that  college  graduates, 
and  others  who  have  good  preparation  other- 
wise, are  deficient  in  English  composition. 
The  library  school  can  not  introduce  this 
subject,  but  it  can  provide  for  it  in  a certain 
measure.  For  this  reason,  this  year  the 
school  will  require  from  the  juniors  a writ- 
ten book  review  each  month,  and  from  the 
seniors  a written  outline  of  topics  discussed 


234 


THE  ILLINI:  JANUARY  13,  1899. 


THE  ROTUNDA  OF  THE  LIBRARY  BUILDING. 


STATE  LIBRARY  SCHOOL. 


235 


in  seminar  each  week,  and  a written  paper 
with  references  on  some  library  topic  once 
in  two  months.  This  oug’ht  to  secure  better 
theses  at  the  close  of  the  course,  and  pre- 
pare the  g-raduates  to  write  clear  reports  and 
addresses. 

Selection  of  hooks. — Study  is  based  upon 
the  Publishers’  Weekly  and  the  Publishers’ 
Circular,  with  a view  to  making-  a selection 
of  books  each  month.  The  leading- critical 
mag-azines  are  divided  among-  the  class  for 
examination.  Particular  books  are  assig-ned 
to  individual  students,  who  are  required  to 
orally  review  them  with  reg-ard  to  author, 
subject,  edition,  series,  etc.  Briefs  of  books 
are  frequently  required,  and  once  a month 
a carefully  written  review  must  be  presented. 
During-  the  fall  term,  before  reviews  of  the 
fall  books  are  available,  the  students  study 
children’s  books  by  classes  and  contempo- 
rary authors  by  g-roups,  so  that  each  student 
becomes  familiar  with  a larg-e  number  of 
writers.  Throug-h  the  year  each  student 
is  required  to  carefully  read  at  least  twenty 
of  the  new  books. 

The  broad  side  of  the  work  has  been 
developed,  so  that  the  cutting-  and  mount- 
ing- of  items  from  the  Publishers’  Weekly  is 
now  only  an  incident,  whereas  formerly  it 
was  magnified  to  an  unprofitable  degree. 

General  Library  economy. — During  the 
fall  term  an  effort  is  made  to  give  the  new 
students  information  on  general  topics  about 
which  they  are  often  questioned;  such  as 
library  schools,  library  associations,  travel- 
ing libraries  and  library  economy  publica- 
tions. Later,  in  the  junior  year,  general 
talks  on  each  subject  are  given  while  the 
technical  work  is  in  progress,  instead  of 
being  scattered  through  the  year.  During 
the  senior  year  advanced  subjects  are  taken 
up  by  the  seminary  method. 

The  library  staff  and  library  school  have 
organized  a library  club  for  the  discussion 
of  general  topics.  This  meets  once  a month 
during  the  college  year,  and  affords  a means 
of  social  intercourse. 

Bookmaking. — This  subject  was  first 
treated  in  a few  scattered  lectures  by  Dr. 
Gunsaulus,  when  the  antiquarian  side  was 
emphasized;  next  it  was  given  in  a long 
course  of  lectures  by  Mr.  Irving  Way,  when 
the  modern  and  practical  side  was  empha- 
sized, and  later  an  attempt  was  made  to  use 
text  books  for  class  study  and  to  combine 
the  two  features.  Another  year  a course  of 
lectures  will  be  given,  illustrated  by  lantern 
slides,  and  this  will  include  the  history  of 
printing  and  the  history  of  binding. 

History  of  libraries. — In  this  course  libra- 
ries are  studied  by  types  and  by  countries. 


Library  visits. — This  school,  like  those 
in  the  east,  has  made  a practice  of  visiting 
libraries  annually  for  comparative  study  of 
methods.  While  in  Chicago,  one  visit  was 
made  and  discussed  each  week.  Last  year 
the  class  spent  one  week  in  Chicago,  mak- 
ing two  visits  a day,  and  devoting  many 
days  to  discussion  on  their  return.  It  is 
doubtful  if  these  visits  will  be  repeated,  at 
least  in  the  same  way.  The  plan  now  is  to 
have  a member  of  the  staff  thoroughly  revise 
the  library  school  notes,  on  a much  more 
thorough  basis,  and  to  keep  these  up  to 
date.  These  will  be  supplemented  by  pho- 
tographs and  models,  if  possible,  and  will 
be  made  the  basis  of  comparative  study  of 
principles  at  the  University  during  the  jun- 
ior year.  This  will  give  the  students  a 
clearer  idea  of  details,  and  it  will  relieve 
librarians  of  the  task  of  minute  explana- 
tions which  they  have  so  graciously  repeated 
for  several  years.  If  it  seems  best,  later, 
the  seniors  may  visit  Chicago  to  study 
broad  questions,  and  to  obtain  final  material 
for  their  theses. 

Laboratory  work. — This  term  for  practi- 
cal work  has  been  adopted  since  the  connec- 
tion of  the  school  with  the  University. 
Formerly  this  work  was  done  at  pleasure 
during  the  day,  and  it  was  of  a very  miscel- 
laneous character.  This  lacked  system  and 
did  not  give  satisfactory  results;  it  wasted 
the  time  of  the  staff  and  inculcated  irregu- 
lar habits  on  the  part  of  the  students.  Now 
regular  laboratory  hours  are  assigned;  defi- 
nite work  is  distributed  beforehand,  and  an 
instructor  is  in  charge;  tardiness  or  absence 
from  laboratory  is  as  serious  as  from  a reci- 
tation. 

In  order  to  learn  the  details  of  office  work 
which  cannot  be  taught  in  class,  each  stu- 
dent acts  as  assistant  for  a time  to  each 
member  of  the  library  staff  in  turn.  Each 
member  of  the  staff  has  a senior  assistant 
and  a junior  assistant  at  the  same  time. 
Formerly  these  worked  independently,  but 
now  the  senior  has  charge  of  the  junior’s 
work  and  makes  a report  upon  it  each  week. 
This  was  devised  as  a slight  test  of  the 
executive  ability  of  seniors,  as  trustees 
always  ask  about  that  quality  when  engag- 
ing librarians. 


NOTICE. 


nomirratiim  for  football  man- 
agei«*N£or  be  received 

until  Tue5d«^vening7'3'al^^!U^;^ 

J.  K.  Ho^G^^tND, 

Pres.  Athletic  Association. 


236 


THE  TLLINI:  JANUARY  13,  1S99. 


THE  MAIN  ENTRANCE. 


THE  LIBRARY  IN  DETAIL. 


237 


THE  LIBRARY  IN  DETAIL. 


Government  Documents. 

THEIR  ARRANGEMENT  AND  THEIR  INDEXES. 

The  library  of  the  University  of  Illinois  is  a 
“designated  depository;”  that  is,  it  is  designat- 
ed by  law  to  receive  all  government  publi- 
cations which  are  issued  in  the  congressional 
or  sheep-bound  set.  The  library,  however, 
does  not  possess  a complete  set.  Many  of  the 
early  volumes  were  never  supplied,  and  doubt- 
less some  of  the  later  volumes  were  lost  be- 
cause of  inadequate  provision  for  storage. 

The  government  documents  which  are  in 
the  library  are  arranged  as  follows: 

Unbound  and  cloth  bound  documents  are 
classified  and  arranged  with  other  books  on 
the  same  subject,  sheep  bound  documents  if 
limited  to  a special  subject  are  classified  and 
arranged  with  other  books  bn  that  subject- 
Sheep  bound  documents  which  are  of  miscel- 
laneous contents,  or  which  are  duplicated  in 
the  cloth  volumes,  are  arranged  on  the  first 
floor  of  the  stack  room  in  the  order  of  the 
“Check  list  to  public  documents,”  which  is 
issued  by  the  superintendent  of  documents  at 
Washington.  This  check  list  is  a catalogue  of 
documents  by  congress,  session  and  document. 
It  further  tells  where  in  the  sheep  bound  set 
any  particular  reports  may  be  found.  It  is 
supplemented  each  month,  and  should  be  con- 
sulted before  trying  to  use  the  documents, 
unless  the  number  of  the  desired  volume  is 
known.  Copies  may  be  consulted  at  the  loan 
desk,  the  reference  desk  or  in  the  document 
room.  This  check  list  does  not  index  special 
articles.  This  work  is  covered  by  the  document 
index,  which  is  issued  at  the  close  of  each 
session,  and  by  the  document  catalogue,  which 
is  issued  at  the  close  of  each  congress.  These 
publications  are  with  the  other  indexes  in  the 
reference  room,  and  their  use  will  be  explained 
at  any  time  by  the  reference  librarian. 

Perodicals. 

THEIR  ARRANGEMENT  AND  THEIR  INDEXES. 

Current  periodicals  are  all  recorded  in  the 
main  library,  but  they  are  deposited  wherever 
they  can  be  the  most  conveniently  used.  All 
periodicals  which  are  not  sent  to  the  depart- 
ments for  use,  are  filed  in  pigeon  holes  in  the 


reading  room.  A list  of  periodicals  posted  at 
the  end  of  the  periodical  case  tells  where  any 
magazine  may  be  found.  Usually  the  last 
three  numbers  of  periodicals  are  on  file,  other 
numbers  are  in  the  stack  room  with  the  bound 
volumes.  In  the  stack  room  all  periodicals  are 
on  the  third  floor,  arranged  by  subject.  If  the 
desired  volume  is  not  found  inquiry  at  the  loan 
desk  will  tell  where  it  is. 

The  library  possesses  a full  line  of  periodi- 
cal indexes,  and  most  of  these  are  duplicated 
in  the  reference  room  of  the  College  of  Engi- 
neering. 

Poole's  Index  covers  general  perodical  liter- 
ature from  1800  to  1897  and  is  continued  by 
the  Annual  Literary  Index  down  to  January 
of  each  year.  This  is  supplemented  b}^  the 
Cumulative  Index^  which  is  issued  monthly, 
and  by  the  brief  lists  in  each  number  of  the 
Review  of  Revietvs.  Magazine  articles  may  be 
found  for  any  subject  by  looking  under  the 
subject  word,  where  will  be  found  title,  some- 
times author,  volume,  page,  and  date.  The 
Cumulative  Index  also  indexes  portraits  and 
reviews  of  new  books.  Indexes  to  German 
periodicals  and  French  periodicals  will  soon  be 
added  to  the  library.  Technical  periodicals 
are  indexed  in  the  same  way,  though  less  thor- 
oughly, by  Galloupe's  Engineering  Index.,  the 
Descriptive  Index  to  Engineering  Literature 
and  by  the  monthly  indexes  in  the  Engineering 
Magazine;  also  by  the  lists  in  Electrical 
World.,  and  by  the  Repetiorium  der  technischen 
Litteratur. 

Familiarity  with  these  indexes  will  lighten 
the  work  of  faculty  and  student.  The  refer- 
ence librarian  is  ready  at  all  times  to  explain 
their  use. 

Agricultural  Experiment  Station  Library. 

In  1887  the  U.  S.  government  appropriated 
$15,000  a year  to  each  state  for  the  purpose  of 
establishing  and  maintaining  agricultural  ex- 
periment stations  in  connection  with  colleges 
founded  upon  the  act  granting  public  land  to 
to  them.  The  Illinois  Agricultural  Experiment 
Station  spent  a large  part  of  its  early  appro- 
priations for  books,  and  the  result  was  nearly 
5,000  titles,  including  pamphlets  and  clippings. 


238 


THE  ILLINl:  JANUARY  13,  1899. 


which  were  deposited  in  the  main  library  last 
spring. 

Among  the  most  valuable  possessions  in  this 
library  are  the  bulletins  and  reports  of  the 
agricultural  experiment  stations  of  the  differ- 
ent states  of  the  union. 

The  collection  is  unusually  complete,  includ- 
ing in  many  cases  also  the  publications  of  sta- 
tions supported  by  the  state.  This  collection 
was  made  through  the  painstaking  efforts  of 
Mr.  Pillsbury,  when  secretar}^  of  the  station, 
and  is  now  carefully  continued  by  Professor 
Davenport,  director  of  the  station. 

Each  station  is  required  to  publish  a bulletin 
at  least  once  in  three  months,  and  these  bul- 
letins give  the  result  of  local  experiments. 


scriptions,  and  in  publications  which  can  be 
secured  through  exchange. 


The  Library  Classification. 

It  is  an  aid  in  finding  books  on  the  shelves 
if  one  has  some  idea  of  the  meaning  of  the 
numbers  on  the  book.  In  the  University 
library  the  numbers  on  the  first  line  of  the 
label  denote  the  subject;  the  letter  and  figures 
below  denote  the  author.  This  brings  all 
books  on  one  subject  together,  and  arranges 
them  by  authors.  Tlie  plan  is  that  of  the 
Dewey  decimal  classification  and  supposes  all 
knowledge  to  be  divided  into  nine  main  classes 
marked  by  the  digits  1 to  9,  with  0 assigned  to 
those  works  which  are  too  general  for  any  one 


AMONG  THE  BOOKS. 


The  bulletins  of  this  library  were  bound  last 
spring  as  far  as  they  were  complete.  They 
can  be  easily  found  in  the  library,  as  they 
are  arranged  by  states  alphabetically.  If  a 
reader  wishes  to  find  material  on  a given  agri- 
cultural topic  he  will  use  the  Handbook  of 
experiment  stations  published  in  1893,  and  the 
Experiment  station  record  since  that  time.  He 
will  also  find  a card  index  to  these  bulletins 
and  reports  in  the  station  office  and  in  the 
main  library.  The  idex,  however,  is  not  up  to 
date. 

The  Illinois  Experiment  Station  needs  all  of 
the  government  appropriation  now  for  experi- 
ment work  and  publishing,  so  that  it  will  not 
add  to  the  library  except  in  periodical  sub- 


class. Each  class  is  divided  ten  times  if  desir- 
ed. Each  division  may  be  divided  ten  times 
and  so  on  as  far  as  practicable. 

The  classes  are — 0 General  Works;  1 Phil- 
osophy: 2 Religion;  3 Sociology;  4 Philology; 
5 Natural  Science;  6 Useful  Arts;  7 Fine  Arts; 
8 Literature;  9 History. 

The  number  of  a book  remains  the  same  re- 
gardless of  location.  For  example,  942  means 
the  history  of  England;  9 is  for  history,  4 is 
for  Europe  and  2 is  for  England.  943  means 
the  history  of  Germany;  9 is  for  history,  4 is 
for  Europe  and  3 is  for  Germany. 


Library  Club. 

The  Library  Staff  and  the  Library  School 


THE  LIBRARY  US  DETAIL. 


239 


form  a library  club  which  meets  once  a month 
throughout  the  college  year.  The  club  con- 
siders topics  which  are  allied  to  library  work, 
but  it  does  not  deal  with  the  technical  sub- 
jects which  are  included  in  the  Library  School 
course. 

During  the  present  college  year  it  has  been 
addresssed  by  Professor  Frederick  on  “Modern 
Methods  of  Illustrating,”  by  Professor  Ricker 
on  “Library  Buildings,”  illustrated  by  a large 
collection  of  lantern  slides,  and  by  Professor 
Dodge  on  various  editions  of  Shakespeare. 

The  club  has  no  constitution  and  no  regular 
officers.  Its  programs  are  arranged  and  its 
business  conducted  by  an  executive  committee 
of  three,  composed  of  one  member  from  the 
staff,  one  from  the  senior  class,  and  one  from 
the  junior  class. 

Evening  Use  of  the  Library. 

Evening  use  of  the  library  has  steadily  in- 
creased, but  there  is  room  for  many  more  read- 
ers. The  demand  for  this  privilege  was  met 
by  the  University  authorities  upon  entering 
the  new  library.  Last  year  the  light  was  in- 
sufficient. This  year  the  rooms  are  well  light- 
ed and  every  convenience  is  afforded  as  in  the 
daytime.  The  hours  are  from  6 :30  to  9 on  Mon- 
days, Tuesdays,  Wednesdays  and  Thursdays. 


The  Library  Catalogue. 

The  catalogue  of  the  library  is  written  on 
cards  which  are  filed  in  cases  in  the  delivery 
room,  where  they  may  be  freely  consulted. 
Each  book  is  represented  by  one  or  more  cards. 
These  cards  are  arranged  alphabetically  by 
authors,  titles  and  subjects.  If  a student  is 
looking  for  a book  by  a particular  author  he 
has  only  to  look  under  this  author’s  name;  if 
he  wishes  to  see  what  the  library  has  upon  a 
given  subject,  he  should  look  under  the  sub- 
ject word  in  its  alphabetic  place.  The  num- 
ber in  the  left  hand  margin  of  the  card  is  the 
call-number,  denoting  the  subject  and  author 
of  the  book  and  showing  where  it  may  be 
found  on  the  shelves. 


The  John  Crerar  Catalogue. 

The  John  Crerar  library  in  Chicago  was 
opened  to  the  public  about  two  years  ago  in 
temporary  quarters  at  87  Wabash  avenue,  in 
the  Marshall  Field  annex,  sixth  floor.  Its  trus- 


tees decided  to  make  it  a special  library  of 
science  and  its  applications  in  the  broadest 
sense,  but  to  keep  it  for  reference  only.  At 
the  same  time  they  decided  to  print  their  card 
catalogue  and,  to  distribute  duplicate  cards  to 
such  libraries  as  could  most  profitably  use  them. 
During  the  first  year  the  cards  were  assigned 
to  six  libraries  in  Chicago  and  its  suburbs. 
Last  year  the  University  of  Illinois  applied  for 
these  cards  and  received  them,  while  all  other 
applicants  were  refused. 

These  cards  are  now  arranged  for  free  use 
in  a case  in  the  reference  room.  It  will  be 
valuable  for  the  faculty  and  students  to  know 
whether  or  not  they  can  find  certain  scientific 
works  at  this  library  before  making  a trip  to 
Chicago.  Cards  will  be  filed  as  soon  as  re- 
ceived. The  arrangement  is  alphabetical  by 
authors. 


Reference  Department. 

The  reference  room  is  situated  at  the  right 
hand  side  of  the  entrance  to  the  library,  and  in 
it  are  placed  books  of  such  general  interest 
that  they  are  frequently  consulted,  as  dic- 
tionaries, encyclopedias,  atlases,  indexes,  alma- 
nacs, year-books,  books  of  quotations,  collected 
biography,  etc.  These  books  are  classified  in 
the  same  manner  as  the  rest  of  the  library  and 
are  so  arranged  upon  the  shelves. 

In  addition  to  the  reference  books,  which 
are  kept  permanently  in  the  reference  room, 
are  also  a large  number  of  books  reserved  for 
a specified  time  at  the  request  of  the  professors 
and  instructors  for  the  use  of  their  classes. 
These  books  are  compared  each  day  with  a list 
which  was  made  up  at  the  time  when  they 
were  placed  upon  the  shelves  of  the  reference 
room,  and  any  missing  book  is  promptly  re- 
ported to  the  instructor. 

The  work  of  the  reference  department  is 
developing  along  two  distinct  lines,  first,  the 
answering  of  a number  of  questions  of  the 
moment,  such  as:  What  is  the  cost  of  keeping 
our  naval  reserves?  What  is  the  greatest  alti- 
tude in  Illinois?  Where  find  what  corres- 
pondence has  passed  between  the  United  States 
and  Great  Britain  in  regard  to  the  release  of 
Mrs.  May  brick?  and  second,  the  bringing 
together  of  all  or  part  of  the  material  which 
the  library  contains,  upon  any  desired  subject. 


240 


THE  ILLINI : JANUARY  13,  1898. 


A careful  list  is  made  of  such  material  and 
preserved  for  future  use.  For  instance  a year 
ago  when  the  classes  in  Rhetoric  studied  Stev- 
enson, such  a list  was  made  of  all  the  works 
by  Stevenson  in  the  library,  and  of  everything 
which  could  be  found  concerning  him.  This 
list  was  consulted  a number  of  times  each  day 
during  the  spring  term.  This  year  when  the 
present  class  begins  their  study  of  Stevenson 
this  list  will  be  taken  as  a basis,  but  all  the 
articles  which  have  appeared  in  books  and  peri- 
odicals during  the  last  year  will  be  consulted, 
and  if  of  sufficient  importance  added  to  it. 
Many  such  lists  are  being  made  continually, 
at  the  request  of  the  various  instructors  and 
also  of  the  students,  for  assistance  in  thesis 
and  other  work. 

It  is  the  aim  of  the  department  always  at 


beginning  of  each  year  these  lists  are  com- 
bined to  form  the  Annual  American  Catalogue. 
Once  in  five  years  these  volumes  are  combined 
to  form  the  American  Catalogue.  Through 
these  volumes  an  American  book  may  be 
traced  from  the  present  time  back  to  1876. 
In  tracing  earlier  publications  a librarian 
would  better  be  consulted. 

Current  English  books  can  be  found  by  con- 
sulting the  Publishers'  Circular.  This  peri- 
odical gives  a list  of  books  published  in  Great 
Britain  each  week.  These  lists  are  combined 
each  year  to  form  the  Annual  English  Cata- 
logue, and  these  volumes  are  again  combined 
at  unequal  intervals  to  form  the  English  Cat- 
alogue. Through  these  volumes  English  books 
may  be  traced  back  to  1835. 

French  and  German  books  may  be  traced 


A LIBRARY  VIEW. 


any  time  to  be  in  readiness  to  find  any  infor- 
mation wanted  to  answer  questions  which  arise 
at  the  moment,  to  prepare  lists  of  books  and 
periodical  articles  upon  any  topic,  and  to  assist 
the  students  in  learning  to  use  the  library 
intelligently. 


How  to  Find  Publishers  and  Prices  of  Books. 

The  American,  English,  French  and  Ger- 
man trade  bibliographies  are  in  the  reference 
room,  where  they  can  be  used  as  freely  by  the 
Faculty  and  students  as  by  the  librar}^  assist- 
ants. Current  American  books  can  be  found 
by  consulting  the  Publishers'  Weekly.  This 
periodical  gives  each  week  a list  of  books  pub- 
lished in  the  United  States,  adding  all  trade 
details  and  descriptive  notes.  It  also  gives,  in 
the  first  number  of  each  month,  a list  of  books 
published  during  the  previous  month.  At  the 


by  similar  lists,  although  they  are  not  so  well 
represented  for  current  publications. 


General  Reference  Course. 

This  year  a course  on  the  use  of  the  library 
was  offered  to  all  students  in  the  University, 
and  was  entirely  independent  of  the  courses  in 
the  library  school.  Its  object  was  to  help 
students  in  the  different  colleges  to  help  them- 
selves in  using  the  library.  It^  comprised 
lessons  on  the  classification,  the  card  catalogue, 
general  periodical  indexes,  technical  and  special 
indexes,  encyclopedias,  dictionaries,  handbooks 
of  history,  biography  and  geography,  hand- 
books of  general  information,  book  and  peri- 
odical buying,  book  binding  and  repairs. 

The  scope  of  the  work  and  the  size  of  the 
class  made  recitations  impracticable.  Students 
were  tested  by  written  work  altogether.  A list 


TAIL, 


241 


questions  was  given  to  the  students  to 
answer  before  the  next  lesson,  and  these  an- 
swers could  only  be  found  by  actually  exam- 
ining the  books  which  had  been  explained. 

The  term  examination  tested  the  ability  of 
the  student  to  use  the  library  aids,  and  it  in- 
sured individual  work.  Each  student  was 
asked  to  select  a subject  of  interest  to  him- 
self, then  to  find  five  periodical  references  on 
the  subject,  giving  name  of  periodical,  date, 
volume  and  pages;  to  find  five  books  on  the 
subject,  giving  author,  title,  publisher  and 
price;  to  find  if  these  periodical  articles  and 
books  were  in  the  University  library;  if  they 
were,  to  explain  the  meaning  of  the  call  num- 
bers given  on  the  catalogue  cards;  if  they  were 
not  in  the  library,  to  assign  to  them  probable 
call  numbers  (limited  to  three  figures)  using 
the  decimal  classification.  Students  were  al- 
lowed to  work  at  their  convenience  during 
three  days,  and  the  results  were  very  satisfac- 
tory. It  is  hoped  that  more  may  take  the 
course  another  year  and  that  it  may  be  prac- 
ticable to  add  new  features. 


Urbana  Public  Library  and  Illinois  State  Library 
School. 

Beginning  in  January  this  year  the  Library 
School  of  the  University  will  open  the  Urbana 
Public  Library  each  afternoon  during  ten 
months  of  the  year. 

The  library  in  Urbana  has  been  closed  dur- 
ing the  day  because  of  inadequate  funds  for 
help.  The  director  of  the  Library  School, 
wishing  to  secure  public  library  experience  as 
a regular  part  of  the  course,  offered  the  ser- 


vices of  the  school  to  the  Library  Board,  and 
the  offer  was  accepted. 

The  work  will  be  considered  a senior  privi- 
lege. The  plan  is  to  open  the  library  from  3 
to  6 veach  day,  with  two  Seniors  in  charge. 
Each^one  will  give  two  hours  a day,  so  that 
there  will  be  two  on  duty  at  the  busy  hour  at 
the  close  of  the  public  schools.  Each  Senior 
will  be  on  duty  one  month  at  least,  and  the 
terms  of  service  will  overlap,  so  that  one  expe- 
rienced person  will  always  be  in  attendance. 

The  students  will  have  entire  charge  at  this 
time,  although  they  will  serve  under  the  direc- 
tion of  the  librarian  of  the  public  library,  and 
will  carry  out  the  rules  of  the  Board. 

The  opportunity  is  an  exceptional  one  for 
the  Library  School,  and  it  is  believed  that  it 
will  be  much  appreciated  by  the  patrons  of 
the  library. 

Annotated  Catalogue  Cards  on  English  History. 

The  library  has  just  received  catalogue  cards 
for  the  most  important  books  on  English  his- 
tory published  in  1896,  1897  and  1898.  The 
cards  are  edited  by  W.  Dawson  Johnston  and 
issued  by  the  Publishing  Section  of  the  Ameri- 
can Library  Association.  Books  are  not  se- 
lected until  six  months  after  publication,  in 
order  to  test  their  value  and  to  profit  by  re- 
views. 

The  cards  bear  full  descriptive  and  critical 
notes  and  refer  to  reviews  in  critical  journals. 
The  library  has  for  each  book,  one  card  for 
the  author,  one  card  for  the  subject  and  a slip 
to  insert  in  the  book  for  the  aid  of  the  reader. 
The  titles  for  1898  are  also  issued  in  pamphlet 
form  for  convenience. 


242 


JANUARY  13,  1899. 


JHemoriam. 


JONATHAN  B.  TURNER. 

At  hour  of  gfoing-  to  press  we  are 
pained  to^earn  that  the  University  has  lost 
its  life-lon^Bupporter  and  friend,  Proft^ssor 
Jonathan  B.  ^urner.  No  particulars  could 
be  learned  at  that  late  hour  concerning-  his 
death,  but  owin\  to  his  advanced  ag-e  his 
death  is  no  great\urprise.  A full  account 
of  his  life  and  wonis  will  appear  in  next 
week’s  Ielini. 

NOTICI 


Regular  meeting  of  Athl^c  Association, 
Wednesday,  January  18. 

J.  K.  HoagiNvnd,  Pres. 


PEPE’S  STORY. 


beat  glanced  sorrowfully  on  the  scene 
him.  Great  piles  of  mangled  slain  lay  ever 
where.  Horses  and  men  mingled  with 
bursted  caissons  and  broken  cantion.  A 
mist  had  fallen  on  the  country y^nveloping 
the  scene  in  a ghostly  white  shroud  of  fog. 
As  the  soldier  gazed  throi^^h  the  mist 
he  saw  a form  rise  up  froiji  a pile  of  slain 
and  flit  across  the  field.  /^iVas  it  a spy  or  a 
prowling  ghoul  from  the^'camp? 

“Again  and  again  iP  paused,  and  by  the 
feeble  rays  of  a lantern  examined  the  faces 
of  the  dead.  Nearer  and  nearer  came  the 


Thej^  often  wondered  in  the  hamle\  why 
old  Pepe  lived  alone  on  the  battlefield. 
True  he  had  but  a leg  and  had  been  p^- 
sioned  by  the  government,  and  having  m 
one  to  look  after  or  care  for  he  could  live 
where  he  pleased.  But  why  did  he  choose 
such  a dismal,  gloomy  place  as  that?  The 
very  memories  surrounding  the  slope  upon 
which  his  humble  cabin  stood  wer^  full  of 
blood  and  carnage.  And  when  he  Tilled  his 
garden  in  the  spring  he  often  turned  up  skel- 
etons of  the  victims  of  that  d^y  of  slaugh- 
ter. It  was  a gruesome  pl^te — that  bat- 
tlefield— and  no  one  knew  w/hy  Father  Pepe 
lived  there  until  they  hac^/heard  his  story. 

One  summer  night  as/the  old  soldier  sat 
on  the  doorstep  smoking,  a party  of  peasant 
folk  came  across  tlye  field.  “Give  us  a 
story.  Father  Pepe^/  one  said  as  they  seated 
themselves  revere^tlj"  at  the  old  man’s  feet. 
“Yes,  give  us  ^story.  Father  Pepe,  of  the 
war,”  cried  a^^chorus  of  voices.  And  so 
Father  Pepe/as  he  looked  out  on  the  battle- 
field flooded  with  silver  light  from  the  rising 
moon,  be^an. 

“Gra/elotte  had  been  fought  and  won 
and  the  held  of  battle  was  still  from  the 
sound  of  charging  columns  and  roaring  can- 
nod.  A silence  of  death  had  fallen  on  the 
bloody  field.  A picket  as  he  paced  his  lonely 


figure  until  the  s^tinel  challenged  it.  As 
he  did  so  it  be^  over  a heap  of  slain,  and 
with  a wild  cvj  it  fell  to  the  earth.  And 
the  sentinel  fired.” 

Pepe  paused  a moment  and  looked  out  on 
the  battl^eld.  “It  was  right  over  there,” 
he  said/pointing  to  a hillock,  “where  they 
went  and  found  it.  It  was  a woman,  lying 
dead,  with  her  lips  pressed  to  a dead  car- 
bineer’s cheek — shot  through  the  breast  by 
the  sentinel.  Who  they  were  no  one  could 
find  out.  Such  is  the  fate  of  war.  Were 
they  lovers,  or  wife  and  husband?  Who  can 
ill.  “But,  Pepe,”  said  one  of  the  listeners 
laughing,'  “your  story  has  no  end.  What 
of  \he  sentinel?”  “I  was  the  sentinel,” 
Pepe\eplied,  still  looking  out  on  the  battle- 
field. \ E.  L. 


Now  chfnes  the  farmer’s  short  course  man, 
:h  dignified  expression, 

An  1 trie^o  prove  a single  man 

Can  make  a whole  procession. 


ATNTHE  THEATER. 

They  were  from \he  country  and  evidently 
never  had  been  to  vwy  many  plays.  Before 
the  curtain  rose  the;^at  looking  about  in 
childish  curiosity,  andNvhen  the  orchestra 
struck  up  the  prelude  boTh  leaned  forward, 
scarcely  breathing.  Kver^hing  was  real 
to  them.  They  clapped  th^  hands  with 
glee  at  the  success  of  the  hero^or  sank  back 
in  despair  as  the  villain  produced  another 
plot.  They  were  happy — very  h^py — and 
as  the  curtain  dropped  on  the  last  ^t  they 
followed  the  crowd  aimlessly,  withXtheir 
eyes  fixed  upon  the  floor.  They  were  tnmk- 
ing — thinking  over  that  brief  play  as  an 
in  real  life.  G.  F. 


